Space News Update - December 3, In the News Story 1: Story 1: Spectacular Liftoff Thrusts China’s First Rover ‘Yutu’ to the Moon Story 2: Story 2: India’s First Mars Probe ‘MOM’ Blasts Free of Earth Joining MAVEN in Race to Red Planet Story 3: Story 3: Mach 1000 Shock Wave Lights Supernova Remnant Departments The Night Sky ISS Sighting Opportunities Space Calendar NASA-TV Highlights Food for Thought Space Image of the Week

Spectacular Liftoff Thrusts China’s First Rover ‘Yutu’ to the Moon

India’s First Mars Probe ‘MOM’ Blasts Free of Earth Joining MAVEN in Race to Red Planet

Mach 1000 Shock Wave Lights Supernova Remnant

The Night Sky Sky & Telescope Tuesday, December 3 Yes, the Summer Triangle is still high after dusk in December. Spot Vega, its brightest star, in the west-northwest. The brightest above Vega is Deneb. Look farther to Vega's right for Altair. Wednesday, December 4 Look for the waxing crescent Moon far lower right of Venus in twilight, as shown here. Watch Jupiter's moon Io gradually disappear into eclipse by Jupiter's shadow, just off the planet's western limb, around 10:58 p.m. EST. A small telescope is all you need. Thursday, December 5 The crescent Moon poses about 7° to Venus's upper right in twilight, as shown here. As the sky darkens, look with binoculars for Alpha and Beta Capricorni to the Moon's upper left. Both are double stars for binoculars: Alpha is very easy to resolve, Beta is harder. Friday, December 6 The waxing crescent Moon hangs high over Venus at dusk, with Alpha and Beta Capricorni now to its lower right. Saturday, December 7 Earliest sunset of the year (near 40° north latitude). The longest night won't come until December 21st at the solstice, and the latest sunrise doesn't happen until January 4th.

ISS Sighting Opportunities Sighting information for other cities can be found at NASA’s Satellite Sighting InformationSatellite Sighting Information ISS For Denver : None until Saturday. December 7 th.

NASA-TV Highlights (all times Eastern Time Zone) December 3, Tuesday 11:20 a.m. - ISS Expedition 38 In-Flight Interviews with CBS Radio Network/Newspath Syndication and KOMU-TV, Columbia, Mo. - JSC (All Channels) Watch NASA TV online by going to the NASA websiteNASA website MAVEN Launch November 18, 2013 NASA MAVEN Launch November 18, 2013 NASA MAVEN Launch November 18, 2013 NASA MAVEN Launch November 18, 2013 NASA

Space Calendar JPL Space Calendar Dec 03 - MAVEN, Trajectory Correction Maneuver #1 (TCM-1) Dec 03 - Comet 9P/Tempel At Opposition (3.754 AU) Dec 03 - Asteroid 2013 WV43 Near-Earth Flyby (0.024 AU) Dec 03 - Asteroid 7986 Romania Closest Approach To Earth (1.378 AU) Dec 03 - Asteroid LONEOS Closest Approach To Earth (1.501 AU) Dec 03 - Asteroid Garneau Closest Approach To Earth (1.904 AU) Dec th Anniversary (1973), Pioneer 10, Jupiter Flyby Dec 04 - Cassini, Orbital Trim Maneuver #365 (OTM-365) Dec 04 - Comet 184P/Lovas At Opposition (0.970 AU) Dec 04 - Comet 269P/Jedicke Closest Approach To Earth (3.529 AU) Dec 04 - Asteroid Rogerfederer Closest Approach To Earth (1.758 AU) Dec th Anniversary (1978), Pioneer Venus 1, Venus Orbit Insertion Dec 05 - NROL-39 Atlas 5 Launch Dec 05 - Topaz 3/ ALICE/ SMDC-ONE 2.3 & 2.4/ SNap/TacSat 6/FIREBIRD A & B/ AeroCube 5A & 5B/ IPEX/ CUNYSAT 1/ M-Cubed/COVE 2 Atlas 5 Launch Dec 05 - Asteroid 2010 TK7 (Earth Trojan) Closest Approach To Earth (0.197 AU) Dec 05 - Kuiper Belt Object (2003 VS2) At Opposition ( AU) Dec 06 - Chang'e 3 Lunar Orbit Insertion (China) Dec 06 - Asteroid Chelyabinsk Closest Approach To Earth (0.958 AU) Dec 06 - Asteroid 1831 Nicholson Closest Approach To Earth (1.541 AU) Dec 06 - Asteroid 2531 Cambridge Closest Approach To Earth (1.956 AU) Dec 07 - Comet 84P/Giclas Closest Approach To Earth (1.246 AU) Dec 07 - Asteroid Dobson Closest Approach To Earth (2.406 AU)

Food for Thought Figures of Eight and Peanut Shells: How Stars Move at the Center of the Galaxy

Space Image of the Week A Laser Strike at the Galactic Center Image Credit: Yuri Beletsky